St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-22
MISCELLANY.
DEACON HAWLEY'S CHRISTMAS
DREAM.
Western Christian Advocate.

CHATTER long enough, L might drop on
to Sleep"
The two girls who we're talking on
the other side of the great fireplace
stopped the conversation they were
carrying on in low tone as Deacon
Hawley made this remark, and sewed
their patchwork in silence. The dea-
con closed his eyes and leaned back
comfortably in the great cushioned
armchair, trying to forget what the
girls had been saying. Mile had
been kept home from school on ac-
count of a cold, and Hattie had gone
over the account of the days proceed
iDgs as they sat before the fire in the
gathering dusk of the short winter af-
ternoon, the last afternoon before
Christmas.
1t was only the closing remarks that
the deacon noticed in the rapid recital.
"Mamie Brown was happy today"
Hattie was saying. "They have Christ
mas at their house. They all make
each other Christmas presents. They
all hang up their stocking, from Mr..
Brown down to the baby; and, in the
morning, they all go into the parlOr:
and Mr.. Brown empties the stockings,
playing he was Santa Claus. Mamie
asked me if that was the way we did
with our presents. And | had to say
we never had any Christmas at our
house." said Hattie, sadly. Just here,
the conversation proving specially an
nOying to the father, who sat sleepily
gazing into the fire, he silenced the
takers and settled himself for a com
Portable little nap.
In few minutes everything In the
room seemed changed. The dull rag
carpet and the old clock on the mantle
were the same, but the two sOber-faced
girls were gone. 1t seemed quite late,
for the bright logs had died down to
few glowing embers, which still en-
abled him to see, what Deacon Hawley
had never seen before in his house,
rows of stockings before the fire. They
were not children's stockings, either;
but those such as men and women
wear. He noticed that each pair had
some name upon it, and he could just
see that the pair next to his own bore
the name of his neighbOr, William
Brown. While wondering over all
this, he saw muffled figure emerge
from the fireplace and approach the
stockings. There was no installing
the parsonage, the smallest boy in
ChristendOm would have recognized
him in moment.
"Santa Claus as sure as l live ~
gasped the deacon. 81 thought he
was only a silly excuse women con-
trived for spending extra money. Is
it possible there is such a man 2" But
the old gentleman had taken up the
stockings labeled William Brown, and
fhnn
eve. "This is the hardest part of my
trade" sighed he, at the same time
bright smile spread over his rosy face.
"When get through helping the ia
theirs and mothers fill the stockings of
the children all over the land, L al
ways try to find time to slip something
in the stockings of the dear unselfish
fathers and mothers. Now, when
have good supply of dolls, sleds,
drums and candy, L can make the chill
dren happy enough; but 1t is harder
to find the right thing for the grown
folks. | think I'll leave Mrs. Carter a
good supply of patience this year, as
she has six boys. Mr.. Smith needs a
better memory, to remind him he was
once young himself. All here is my
old friend Brown. He never seems to
forget how delighted he was when |
filled his stockings forty years ago.
Bless him !" And the old man shook
with merry little laugh. "There's
nothing too good for him. He has
plenty of it now, but I'll put in more
love from his children. That makes a
man about as happy as anything. Ill
give him good digestion, SO he can en-
Joy the sweetmeats | left his children.
ri leave him sweet sleep again, and
I'll give him good luck with his crops
such kind husband and father should
have prosperous year"
By this time, Mr.. Browns stockings
were full to overlooking. His stock
ings were next, and Deacon Hawley |
held his breath with anxiety. The
smile left the round face of the old |
man, and frOwn took it's place.
GLOW came Deacon Hawley's stock
ngs to be hung up tonight 2" he asked |
sternly. "He never was the man to
spend cent to help me in my work of
making people happy once year. He
will not even let me leave a doll at
lis house for the baby. Yes, he ought
20 hang up his stockings; and to pun
sh him for daring to ask for what he
will not give, | shall leave him what |
,OOk away from n man who has re-
formed, and now helps me. Here is
hatred from his children, and fear from
lis wife, and troubled sleep, and an
unhappy old age, and"
"StOp! stOp!" cried the deacon,
'pringing towards the old man who
was leaving him so much woe. 81
lidn't know" but the words died on
lis lips unfinished, for the old man
his garments became as
white and shining as the halo that
iung like a rainbow of light above his
read. His face, though so ,divinely
'weet, had an inexpressible sadness, or
ender pity, in it as he lifted hand
plainly showing prints of nails, and
oftly said: "WOe unto them who of
end one of the least of these my chill
iren; happy are ye when ye give them
Oy, for We do it unto me-"
Before the deacon could speak the
IisiOn was gone, and he felt a light
ouch on his shoulder, and heard d
'Oice say "COme, father, mother says
erything is getting cold, we have
'een waiting supper SO long for you to
wake up" The deacon got up with a
ceiling of intense relief. 1t was all,
hen, only dream. He was very
uiet over the substantial country sup
,er. He was thinking of his dream,
nd he noticed, for the first time, how
'ale and careworn his wife looked;
md he also noticed that the eyes of
he girls were suspiciously red. After
upper he harnessed the gray horse to
he spring wagon, and put on his over
Oat and mittens.
"Why, father" said Mrs. Hawley, in
larm, "where are you going this time
# night 2"
''lt's only seven, and Pm going to